Reps Urge Aviation Ministry to Probe Alleged Intimidation, Extortion by Security Personnel at Airport

The House of Representatives has called on the Ministry of Aviation to urgently investigate recurring allegations of harassment, intimidation, and extortion of international passengers by security personnel at Port Harcourt International Airport.

The House emphasized that addressing these issues will bring perpetrators to justice, serve as a deterrent, and preserve Nigeria’s credibility in the global community.

The House mandated the Committee on Aviation to investigate the activities of security personnel at the international wing of airports nationwide within seven days. The committee is to bring the culprits to face the law and report within four weeks for further legislative action.

These resolutions followed a motion titled, “Need to Address the Reoccurring Incidents of Harassment, Intimidation, and Extortion of International Passengers at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Port Harcourt,” sponsored by Hon. Boniface S. Emerngwa.

The House noted that international airports are gateways into a country, and the safety of travelers and cargo is the main responsibility of airport security officers. While airports across the country have generally displayed high-security performance, some security personnel at Nigeria’s international airports, particularly at Port Harcourt, have been implicated in severe harassment, intimidation, and extortion of arriving passengers.

The House highlighted that international travelers are frequently forced to provide receipts for personal belongings, subjected to extortion and excessive searches, and faced with delays and un-receipted charges. Credible reports indicate that valuables are often stolen in broad daylight.

It expressed concern that if these actions are not checked, they will negatively impact Nigeria’s struggling economy by diminishing the country’s economic credibility in the global market, discouraging foreign investment, and potentially leading to a decline in revenue generated from foreign visits for business, tourism, and other purposes.

The House underscored the necessity of foreign investments to boost economic growth and increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) amidst the country’s severe economic difficulties.